Amusement apparatus



Dec. 15, 1936. E. RYNEARSON AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1955I 2Sheets-Sheet 1 @Eamon y mvENToR Dec. l5, 1936.A E. RYNEARsoN 2,064,035

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ETLIL El E..

INVENTOR l\ QQ Q "ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 15, 1936 UNETE Application May24,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement apparatus'and it has particularreference to an apparatus of interest to both adults and children and iscapable of submergence in water.

The principal object ofthe invention is to provide in an apparatus ofthe character specied, a plurality of carriages of a constructionsimilar to submarines, spaced around a circle and movably disposed in acircular channel containing water to a predetermined level.

Another object of the invention is to provide means disposed relative tothe submergible carriages for controlling the movements thereof andparticularly for the purpose of effecting an .undulating or analternating submergence Yand emergence of the vessel from'the Water.Moreover, the invention provides for the advancement of the vessels intheir circular course within the channel during submersionof theYcarriages cr Vessels for the purpose specified which is of simpleconstruction and which vis of necessity7 substantially water tight andprovided with port holes thro-ugh which passengers may View submarinelife purposely provided by the invention in the water of the channel.These vessels are likewise provided, as one of the elementary featuresof the invention, With a medium of safety in the nature of a conningktower which ordinarily remains above the surface of the water andthrough which the passengers Vmay be supplied with the necessary air andlikewise affording a means of escape in cases of emergency, should thedriving mechanism become impaired or inoperative while the vessel issubmerged.

Broadly, the invention comprehends the provision of an amusementapparatus comprising a submergible vessel capable of up and down controlmotion as Well as circular motion with a water lled channel, whose floorand walls are artificially decorated with caves, grottoes and submarinelife such as iish and vegetable growths of interest to the passengersviewing the same from the vessel during submergence.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the

invention has particular reference to its salient features ofconstruction and arrangement of parts which will become manifest as thedescription proceeds, taken in connectionv with the accompanyingdrawings, in (which:-

' Figure 1 is a perspective view of a circular channel showing therein aseries of vessels constructed according to the invention and disposed inspaced relationship.

Figure 2 is an elevational View of one of the 1935, Serial No. 23,327

vessels withportions Vbroken away to show. the.,

interior thereof.

Figure 3 is atransverse section on .lines 3 3,v

Figure 6Y is a fragmentary View in perspective i ofthe drivingmechanism, andV Y Figure 7 is a Vform of worm vand gearV drive for thedriving'shaft and wheel shown in Figure 5.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawings, Idesignates an outer, perpendicular wall and 2, an inner wall defining achannel 3 which is filled with water to a predetermined level.

This channel may be of any.

STATES PATENT OFFICE imparting advancing i movement V shapeV butpreferably circular for all practical purposes. Within the confines ofthe channel 3 is an island 4 shown particularly in Figure l.

Obviously, the island i may be beautiiied by planting suitableshrubbery, and flowers thereon and by`landscaping to lendl to theappearance ofthe apparatus or possibly to aid in simulating the naturalsurroundings and to remove the appearance of anarticial arrangement. Theinner wall 2 has an annular recess therein at a point spaced from thetop thereof and extends the entire distance. At spaced intervalswithinthis recess Vis a series of perpendicular shafts B, as shown inFigures 4 to 6 inclusive and situated von each of these shafts; is apair of `spacedV sheaves or pulleys. 1: are conventionally grouped toconceal the upper and lower chains 8 and 9 respectively. VThe chain 8 isendless and surrounds the upper group of sheaves l while the lower chain9 is likewise endless and encircles the lower group of sheaves but'functions as vthe drivingY chain and in thisl connection reference ismade to Figure 6 which shows a driving sheave IE! mounted on a vertical.

shaft II, the lower end of which shaft is jour- These sheaves naled in asuitable bearing, not shown, in the Y the recess I3 and which recessallows for the extension of the drive shaft II to the surface.

A worm gear I3 is mounted onv the shaft II `and engages a worm I4carried by the power shaft I5. It is not considered necessary to show apower plant for imparting rotation to the power shaft I4 since this maybe of any conventional design but it is understood that power thusapplied will rotate the worm gear I3, shaft II, main drive sheave I0 andconsequently the chain 9, which is the drive chain. In so impartingmovement to the drive chain 9, the several vertical shafts B are rotatedto impart rotation to2 the sheaves 1 fixed to the shafts 6. Obviously,the upper chain 8 is moved and since this chain is connected at IB, asshown in Figures 3 and 4, at spaced intervals to the several vessels orsubmerged carriages II, these vessels will be moved progressivelythrough the water in the channel 3.

Before entering into a description of the vessels per se, it will beunderstood that while a chain drive is shown, any suitable method may beemployed for bringing about progressive movement or for pulling thevessels through the water of the channel, the chain drive being ,merelysuggestive of a suitable mechanical means which will effect thispurpose.

The vessels I'I are each constructed of a material which will resist theeffects of water and are of course, sealed against the ingress of waterand as a safety factor, a device I 8, suggestive of or simulating aconning tower of a submarine, is arranged on the top of each vessel.This tower is not intended to be wholly submerged in the water andaffords a means for entrance and egress into and from the vessel of thepassengers and likewise provides the interior of the vessel with thenecessary air, it .being observed that a suitable cover I9 is providedtogether with a ladder 2i! as shown in Figure 2. lSuitable seats 2I arearranged conveniently within the vessel alongside which is a series or"port holes or observation windows 22. It is preferred that each of thevessels be provided with a spot light 23 in order that the passengers oroccupants may be availed of suitable illumination to enable them to viewthe marine life within the water of the channel 3, whether real orarticial.

It is intended that the water of the channel be stocked with a.desirable number of fish and other marine life, capable of subjection tothe coniinement as well as vegetable matter. The outer wall of thechannel is preferably provided with a series of caves or grottoes 2Awhich may be filled with interesting subjects and suitably illuminated.

As a further means for lending entertainment to the apparatus, thevessels are arranged for alternate submergence and emergence, which maybe referred toas an undulating motion, combined with progressivemovement thereof through the water of the channel. This movement isobtained mechanically and is therefore controllable by the provision ofan undulated track 25, secured to the floor 26 of the channel 3. Thetrack 25 is hanged at both its upper and lower surface, the uppersurface being indicated at a. A U-shaped member or clevis 2l issuspended by a chain 28 beneath either end of each of the vessels II andeach of these members 21 is provided with a pair of rollers 29 whichengages the underside of the flange of the track or rail 25.

The buoyancy of the vessel is such as to exert a normal lift thereto inorder to maintain the desired stability, but as the vessels are advancedalong the channels or therearound as the case may be, the peculiarconstruction of the rail 25 contrains the vessels to move downwardly andupwardly, in accordance with the curvature of the track. Thus theundulated motion or alternate submersion and emersion of the vessel iseiectively obtained but at no time, unless otherwise provided for, willthe towers I8 be entirely submerged.

In event of emergency, such for example as the rendering ino-perative ofthe driving mechanism or the infiltration of water, during submergenceof the vessels or otherwise, it is simply necessary to raise the closureI9 of the tower I8 and permit the passengers to leave the vessel bymeans of the ladder 2D and provide a suitable bridge from the vessel tothe shore, and there will be little likelihood of any danger to thepassengers or even to their wearing apparel by any such accident.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to anyparticular shape or design of channel nor to the construction of thevessel and that changes and alterations may be made from time to time asfall within the meaning and scope of the appended claims withoutdeparting from the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a submarine amusement apparatus, an endless water-filled channel,having grottoes in its walls and provided with an undulating oor, anendless track partially embedded in the floor of said channel and havinga T-shaped protuberance, a buoyant, submergible vessel arranged in saidchannel, means flexibly suspended from the bottom of said vessel formovably embracing the T-shaped protuberance of said track, whereby tocontrol the vertical movements of said vessel in accordance with theundulations of said track, and means for propelling said vessel aroundsaid channel.

2. In a submarine amusement device, a waterlled, circular channel havingan undulated floor, a track aflixed to said floor to follow theundulations thereof, a buoyant passenger vessel normally suspended bythe water in said channel, means depending from the bottom of saidvessel for flexibly holding said vessel in operative engagement withsaid track and by which said vessel is caused to move vertically inaccordance with the undulations in said track and means to transportsaid vessel in said channel.

SJAn amusement apparatus including a channel lled with water and havingan irregular floor, a track secured to said floor to follow theirregularities thereof, a buoyant, submergible vessel arranged to carrypassengers and disposed in the water of said channel, flexible meanssuspended from the bottom of said vessel and having roller engagementwith said track whereby to control only the vertical displacement ofsaid vessel in accordance with the irregularities of said track andmeans to propel said vessel along said track in said channel.

EUGENE RYNEARSON.

